Phlox plant named ‘Sunphlochebu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Sunphlochebu’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching and vigorous growth habit; freely and continuous flowering habit; white to light pink-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers; tolerance to high temperatures; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox drummondii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunphlochebu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox drummondii, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Sunphlochebu.

The new Phlox is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed proprietary selection of Phlox drummondii, not patented. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventors from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Sunphlochebu have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light level without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunphlochebu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunphlochebu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching and vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   4. White to light pink-colored flowers with red purple-colored         centers.     -   5. Tolerant to high temperatures.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Phlox differed from plants of the parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the parent selection have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to the Phlox drummondii cultivar Parona Rose with Eye, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Phlox differed from plants of the cultivar Parona Rose with Eye in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were shorter but broader than plants         of the cultivar Parona Rose with Eye.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox were more vigorous than plants of the         cultivar Parona Rose with Eye.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox were more freely branching than         plants of the cultivar Parona Rose with Eye.     -   4. Plants of the new Phlox had smaller leaves than plants of the         cultivar Parona Rose with Eye.     -   5. Plants of the new Phlox were more freely flowering than         plants of the cultivar Parona Rose with Eye.     -   6. Plants of the new Phlox flowered from April to late October         in Japan whereas plants of the cultivar Parona Rose with Eye         flowered from April to June in Japan.     -   7. Plants of the new Phlox and the cultivar Parona Rose with Eye         differed in petal coloration as plants of the cultivar Parona         Rose with Eye had red purple-colored petals.     -   8. Plants of the new Phlox did not produce seeds whereas plants         of the cultivar Parona Rose with Eye produced seeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actual colors of the new Phlox.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Sunphlochebu’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Sunphlochebu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in an outdoor nursery and under commercial production practices during the spring and summer. Plants were grown in 15-cm containers and were about four months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 22° C. and night temperatures averaged 12° C. Plants were pinched one time in the spring. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox drummondii cultivar Sunphlochebu. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed     proprietary selection of Phlox drummondii, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two to three weeks at 20 to             25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant.—About one to two months at             20 to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, fleshy; ivory to pale brown             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded             plant habit; broadly inverted triangle; vigorous growth             habit. Freely branching habit with short internodes, dense             and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 16.6 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 42.4 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20.6 cm. Diameter: About             1.4 mm. Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple;             sessile. Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Venation             pattern: Pinnate; reticulate. Color: Developing and fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: 137B; venation, similar to             lamina. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface:             138B; venation, similar to lamina. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single, rounded salverform flowers             arranged in terminal and lateral cymes; flowers face upright             and outward. Freely flowering habit with about five flowers             per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Present; typical of Phlox.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from April             to late October in Japan. Flowers not persistent.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five days on             the plant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 5.3 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.9 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Clavate. Color: 1D.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 2.8 cm. Depth: About 1.4 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five in a single whorl;             imbricate; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe             length: About 1.3 cm. Lobe width: About 1.3 cm. Shape:             Broadly rhombic. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Aspect:             Mostly flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Developing petals, upper surface: N155B;             towards the base, 72A. Developing petals, lower surface:             N155B to 69C. Fully expanded petals, upper surface: N155B             becoming closer to 65C with development; towards the base,             72A to 73A. Fully expanded petals, lower surface: N155B to             69C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused; narrow tubular calyx. Length: About 3.8 mm.             Width: About 0.7 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             immature, upper and lower surfaces: 137A. Color, mature,             upper and lower surfaces: 137A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 0.4 mm.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 177B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Anther shape: Linear. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: 12A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             12A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Typically one. Stigma             shape: Tri-parted. Stigma color: 1C. Style length: About             0.3 mm. Style color: 1C. Ovary color: 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have not been noted     to be resistant to specific pathogens and pests common to Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and tolerated     temperatures from 0 to 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Sunphlochebu’, as illustrated and described. 